KENT — Seeking permission to operate a farm store and to sell beer packaged in containers, representatives of the Kent Falls Brewing Company (KFBC) attended a regular meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission on Thursday, April 13. The meeting was held on Zoom.
Beginning with a visual presentation of the evolving scope of operations at the 52-acre farm at 33 Camps Rd., applicant David Birnbaum detailed the brewery’s philosophy of collaboration within an agricultural supply chain. Over 60% of the brewery’s raw materials come from within a 50-mile radius, he said, indicating that they are the largest user of hops in the area.
Plans will see the planting of a new perennial wheat, Birnbaum reported.
About their beer tasting room, Birnbaum said that seating capacity is 49 patrons, with parking limited to 35 cars. Birnbaum noted that they are not planning on growth beyond that, either in numbers of visitors or traffic.
Birnbaum said that the brewery had held a listening session for neighbors in late March, hearing and responding to concerns about traffic and odor (likely from the hogs), and truck traffic. He added that the largest trucks used by their suppliers are small box trucks.
The tasting room is open to the public for 20 hours each week, Birnbaum said. The brewery is installing a designated phone line for neighbors to use if a complaint should arise.
The lights will be monitored to be turned off each night at 7:30 p.m., after the tasting room closes at 7 p.m.
“We are focused on the tasting room and the farm atmosphere,” Birnbaum said. “We don’t want to be an event space; we do want to be a valued member of the community.”
Neighbor Bruce Osborne, a resident since 1981, expressed concern about traffic, particularly trucks that carry the beer away from the brewery. He urged that the existing zoning regulations be followed during P&Z deliberations.
Another neighbor Karen Camino, 32-year resident, felt that the business has grown and ignored regulations as the business grew.
Other residents feared that the application would set a precedent and that the zoning regulations are too vague, offering only generalities. One suggested that the P&Z set a special public meeting to develop the necessary definitions.
P&Z chairman Matthew Winter asked for various points of clarification, focusing on specifics on truck traffic.
Explaining more about the growing of hops on-site, KFBC representative John Suskovich said that hops growing has been scaled back because the soils and terrain were not suited. Hops do not stand dampness well, preferring elevated planting on slopes.
“We still grow hops, though,” Suskovich said, although less than in 2018 when they started.
Suskovich presented some figures on beer sales. Some 80% of their beer is delivered to vendors, 10% is sold through the tasting room and 10% to people on a takeaway basis.
Following the close of the public hearing, the P&Z reviewed the elements of the application and how they align with current regulations. Winter had noted that numerous letters had been submitted to the P&Z application records.
“We have a use here and how that impacts Kent residents,” P&Z member Adam Manes said.
“We have to consider the special permit, site plan and lighting,” Winter said.
“It’s a balance between the regulations and the proposal,” Manes added.
The P&Z agreed to discuss the application further at their next regular meeting on Thursday, May 11.
